Two Strathclyde marketing student teams make final of The Pitch 2026
Two teams of students from the Department of Marketing have been successful in reaching the final of The Pitch 2026, the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s global student competition designed to discover the marketers of the future.
Sophie Burns, Kelly Ibenegbu and Natalia Grochowska (pictured left) make up one team - The GreenPrint - and Ola Beza, Anna Shields and Adam Bettaney (pictured right) comprise the GreenGlobal team trio.
This year, the students will take on a real-life brief from CIM’s industry partner, IBM, giving them the chance to gain practical experience, boost their employability and stand out to employers in a competitive job market.
The two Strathclyde teams will be competing against 11 other teams in a live virtual final on March 11 where they will have to pitch their ideas to a panel of expert judges.
This year’s task set by IBM focuses on Green AI. While AI is evolving fast, so is its environmental footprint. Training and running large models demands significant energy, raising serious sustainability concerns. Competing students have been challenged to create a strategic plan that makes IBM the global leader in ‘Green AI’ - the future of sustainable artificial intelligence – helping IBM define, own and lead in this space. The teams have to position IBM as the most credibly brand in sustainable AI and provide a marketing-led strategy for leadership, influence and visibility.
Having successfully got through the first stage of the competition, the six Strathclyders are now busy polishing their pitches for the final.
The GreenGlobal team, Ola, Adam and Anna, said, “We’re delighted to have had the opportunity to take part in CIM ’The Pitch’. It’s a real privilege to participate in the final given the global competition. This has been a great experience for us as marketing students so far, allowing us to put ideas into practice, showcase our unique strengths and take on something so challenging yet rewarding. Green AI is something we are deeply passionate about due to its link to sustainability and climate change; therefore, we are incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to contribute to this global phenomenon."
The Green Print team - Sophie, Kelly and Natalia - said, “We’re absolutely thrilled to be named finalists in The Pitch. This competition has been an incredible opportunity to challenge ourselves, think creatively under pressure, and apply everything we’ve learned in a real-world context. Working on a live brief pushed us to raise our standards, sharpen our strategic thinking, and collaborate more effectively as a team. The feedback and insights we’ve received throughout the process have been invaluable, and we’ve grown both individually and collectively because of it. We’re incredibly grateful for the chance to showcase our ideas on such a respected platform and proud of how far we’ve come together.”
Thomas McAlinden, Department of Marketing lecture, is delighted the two teams have made it to the final. He said, “Strathclyde has an extraordinary record of achievement in The Pitch. In seven years, a Strathclyde team has won on six occasions – four times in the undergraduate section and twice in the postgraduate competition.
“We now have two teams shortlisted for the final and I am delighted for all six students – it's testament to their knowledge and understanding of marketing that they have made it to this stage.
“Everyone in the department is delighted for them and wishes them the best of luck in the final. Knowing them as I do, I know they will do their very best.”
Now in its fifteenth year, The Pitch is a competition that challenges participants to react to a real-life marketing brief, continues to push emerging marketing talent to think strategically.
Maggie Jones, Director of Qualifications and Partnerships at CIM, said, “Selecting this year’s shortlist was no easy task. We saw an increase in submissions, and the standard continues to rise year on year. It has been especially encouraging to see students from across the globe engaging so thoughtfully with the brief.
“Congratulations to all of our finalists, and best of luck in the live finals. I’m really looking forward to seeing your pitches brought to life.”
The winners on March 11 will be named ‘Marketers of the Future’ and will win a one-year complementary CIM Affiliate Professional membership and a place on a CIM virtual e-learning course, as well as an interactive session with four IBM experts. All finalists will receive a Pitch 2026 finalist certificate.
Published: 3 March 2026
